Government continues to delay decision: Federal Council does not want to ban nuclear weapons

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The Federal Council is in a dilemma. On the one hand, parliament gave him a clear mandate in 2018: he had to sign the nuclear weapons ban as soon as possible. Switzerland agreed to this at the UN General Assembly in 2017, along with 122 other countries. However, to date, the contract has still not been signed.

On the other hand, the Federal Council wants to get closer to NATO. Startled by the war in Ukraine, he had set himself the goal. The planned involvement in the Sky Shield missile defense system is just the latest step.

But: further adjustment is not possible by acceding to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It can be heard that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (64) made this very clear to Federal Councilor Viola Amherd (61). All nuclear powers had opposed the ban, including NATO, which bills itself as a “nuclear alliance”. The Federal Council should now disagree on how to proceed.

‘The Bundesrat is playing for time’

“The Bundesrat wants to keep all options open and Parliament has been waiting for five years. That is simply not possible’, says Sibel Arslan (43) of the Greenland alderman.

The National Council’s Foreign Policy Committee (APK) feels the same way. As early as April, she sent a letter to the state government reminding them of their obligations. She must show as soon as possible how she intends to implement Parliament’s demands. Several committee members had expected the Federal Council to take a decision before the summer holidays.

Nothing happened. Parliament is still waiting. “The Federal Council is faced with a dilemma,” says SVP Landsraadslide and APK chairman Franz Grüter (59). He did not want to sign the treaty so as not to offend the nuclear powers. “But he feels the pressure of parliament,” says Grüter. Because the opinions there are clear. The left wants to ban nuclear weapons for pacifist reasons. The SVP is in favor of the ban to prevent NATO rapprochement.

“The Bundesrat plays time and pushes for foreign policy reasons,” says Grüter. “He’s blocking almost everything at the moment and doesn’t take Parliament seriously enough,” says Arslan. And SVP National Councilor Mauro Tuena (51) notes “great nervousness” in the state government. Hopefully no one is in favor of nuclear weapons, especially in times of war. “The ban would definitely get through to the people.”

Cassis is still working on reassessment

Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis (62) is responsible for the file. The decision is being prepared, assures his foreign service (EDA). In parallel with the review of the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty, an analysis will be submitted to the Federal Council on what its signature would mean for Swiss foreign and security policy. “The documents will be submitted together to the Federal Council as soon as they are finalized,” the FDFA announces. No time frame is mentioned.

But even in parliament, not everyone agrees. The war in Ukraine has changed a lot, emphasizes Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter (59), member of the National Council. “Today signing a contract would do more harm than good,” she says. “Especially the nuclear powers themselves are not on board, so the treaty is of little use.” At the same time, however, Switzerland could forget not only the rapprochement with NATO, but also its role as a mediator. “It is therefore correct that the Bundesrat is not signing for the time being,” said the center politician protectively in the presence of her Bundesrat member Amherd.

‘The Bundesrat must finally show its colours’

Schneider-Schneiter is currently in the minority with this opinion. According to APK chairman Grüter, the Commission will certainly bring the issue back on the table after the summer holidays. The pressure on the Federal Council must not diminish. “He cannot apply for another extension of the deadline and keep postponing the issue,” agrees SVP fellow party member Tuena. “The Bundesrat must finally show its colors and sign the contract in accordance with the parliamentary decision.”

Source:Blick